Concept Albums

goose wrote: Operation Mindcrime varied? I wouldn't say it was, partictularly (good record though, don't get me wrong!).

Operation Mindcrime is a Melodic Metal / Hard Rock album and IMO not very progressive. It is brilliant though and it is very varied - every song is carefully crafted to reflect the storyline, most apparently in Suite Sister Mary, Empty Room, etc.

It is not a good example of a (Symphonic) Prog album, but an outstanding Metal album (one of the top 10 metal concept albums in MOST books).

I would definately say just go for all Floyd "Meddle" thru "The Wall"

Rush - 2112, Hemispheres

Yes - Close To The Edge, Tales From Topographic Oceans

Phish - Rift (no one has mentioned this one)

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime

Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick, A Passion Play

The Who - Quadrophenia

Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite

*** Although some of these are not considered concept albums, they are very conceptual

2112 and Hemispheres by Rush

The Rise and Fall of Ziggi Stardust by David Bowie

Scenes of a Memory Metropolis Part II by Dream Theater

In the Court of The Crimson King and Larks' Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson

Thick as a Brick and Aqualung by Jethro Tull

The Perfect Element Part 1 by Pain of Salvation

Meddle by Pink Floyd

Tales from the Topographic Oceans  by Yes

•  Genesis - The Lamb Lies down on Broadway (1974)
•  Gentle Giant - Power & The Glory (1974)
•  Gentle Giant - Three Friends (1972)
•  Gentle Giant - Interview (1976)
•  Gentle Giant - In a Glass House (1973)
•  Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (1979)
•  Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (1972)
•  Jethro Tull - A Passion Play (1973)
•  Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans (73-74)
•  Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite (2000)
•  Dream Theater - Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999)

A little update (With my current ratings of the albums)

BaldJean wrote: in my opinion the combination of "metal" and "concept album" does not work, unless you would either alllow the band to include a few non-metal songs or the concept of the album would have to be about violence and destruction all the time. or another idea, the concept could be "contest of metal bands", and then a few metal bands with different styles that take part in that contest would have to be invented (of course all would have to be portrayed and incorporated by the same band). but playing full power all the time (whch is my understanding of "prog metal"; anything else I would not give that name) just reduces the range of emotions and situations to be described (which is why I am not a great fan of prog metal). I am quite sure there will be a lot or responses now that will prove to me there are prog metal concept albums, but how many of them are metal through and through? I am pretty sure that on such a concept album at least one ballad would appear

dear jean, I'm so sorry to hear something like that from YOU!!!!  I really don't think metal is all about destruction and violence or whatever, it is just music with a heavier sound! There's a lot of clever metal out there, ever heard of Living Colour? And, about what you said on the different kinds of moods, metal DOES imply the use of "dynamics"...

...you don't know what an electric guitar can do!!! 

(I'm sure you know, I'm just kidding)

BaldJean wrote: in my opinion the combination of "metal" and "concept album" does not work, unless you would either alllow the band to include a few non-metal songs or the concept of the album would have to be about violence and destruction all the time. or another idea, the concept could be "contest of metal bands", and then a few metal bands with different styles that take part in that contest would have to be invented (of course all would have to be portrayed and incorporated by the same band). but playing full power all the time (whch is my understanding of "prog metal"; anything else I would not give that name) just reduces the range of emotions and situations to be described (which is why I am not a great fan of prog metal). I am quite sure there will be a lot or responses now that will prove to me there are prog metal concept albums, but how many of them are metal through and through? I am pretty sure that on such a concept album at least one ballad would appear

I'm sorry, but I would have to disagree with you. It's true that there are a lot of metal bands who sing exclusively about death, violence and destruction, but there are also a few who tackle more more 'intellectual' topics. Talking about concept albums, there are two great ones made by metal bands: namely, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son by Iron Maiden and of course the majestic Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche. The subject matter of both is not what you would call cheerful, nevertheless it has very little to do with gratuitous 'violence and destruction'.

As to other concept albums I would recommend, obviously there's the Pink Floyd 'triple whammy' of Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall, the two already mentioned by the Who and Thick as a Brick.